Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-02
THE DISTRICT JURY LAW.
Brewster and Gar.
land Favored a Change.
THE TERN OF SERVICE TOO LoNG-oSI MONTH
ENOUGH.

The protest OF the citiIsnS committee against
the long term OF three months for Jurors In the
District OF Columbia is entirely In line with the
position taken Oh the question by the Department
OF Justice. That active business men should be
taken from their business for so long a time is
looked upon as great injustice to the citizens,
and causes those whose services would be most
valuable to endeavor In every way to avoid Jury
service. Attorney-General Brewster spoke OF this
In his last annual report, and recommended that
the time OF service be reduced to one month.
ATToRNEY-GENERAL GARLAND
renewed this recommendation In about the same
terms In his first report. The report says: "Ser-
vice as juror in the District means an enforced
attendance at court and almost total abandon
menJ OF private business for One-fourth OF the
whole year, hardship and Injustice that Is not
imposed upon citizens in any other place in the
United states, and would not be tolerated in any
community where the people have voice in franz
Ing their own laws. By one OF the sections in the
law person may be excused by the court from
serving on jury when, for any reason, his inter-
esfs or those OF the public will be materially in
1ured by his attendance, or where bis own health
or the death or sickness OF member OF his family
requires his absence. Continuous absence and
neglect OF business for three months in the year
would materially injure the interests OF any busi-
ness man, ana respectable physician would
readily certify that attendance for that length OF
time In crowded courtroom would be
INJURIOUS TO THE HEALTH,
so that the court Is reluctantly compelled to eX-
cuse from service the very men who of all others,
are best qualified TO intelgenty aid and assist in
the administration OF justice. Added to those who
are thus excused there are always found among
the jurors several who, although their names were
placed In the jury box and they have responded to
the summons are public employment, and there
fore exempt. When the court has passed upon
the various claims to be excused and exempted
there Will remain probably one-half Of the num-
Der Of jurors required by law and before proceed
ing with the trials OF cases the attendance Of the
full number must be secured. The way in which
the required number Is to be selected Is not clearly
denned'by the law, which is Interpreted by each
judge according TO his own view. Some OF the
judges cause the Jury-box to be again opened and
the requisite number OF names drawn out; others
direct the marshal TO summon taleSmen; but both
ways have been held to be proper.
"In selecting taleSmen the marshal may sum-
mon man or men from among the bystanders In
the court persons passing along the public Streets
or from any OF the stores banks counting houses,
Offices, hotels or residences in the city, In select
ing talesmen another great hardship Is imposed
upon the person SO summoned When name is
drawn from the jury-box In the first instance the
person whose MANS is so drawn receives q reason
able notice that his services will be required, and
is thus enabled TO arrange his business that 1t
and unceremoniOusly take man from his resi-
dence or OF the street, merchant from his store,
or clerk or bookkeeper from his bank or count
house IS an arbitrary act OF injustice, which,
although practiced at the beginning OF the pres
eDt century, Is totally tneycuSable at this time;
and II Is very doubtful WHITTIER person so sum
uiohcu, II Compeieu W serve, HAS LIS uluu Suui-
GENTLY free from care and anxiety about his own
business to intelligently adjust and decide the
differences existing In the affairs OF others. When
the additional jurors appear In court their excuses
are also heard, and II any are excused, others are
summoned in their place. and so on until, after
the expiration OF from one to three days, and in
some instances even longer, the court has secured
twenty-three grand jurors and tweQty-SiN petit
jurors who are either willin. to serve or have
failed TO show sufficient cause to be excused"
WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID TO-DAY.
1t Is probable that Attorney General Garland
will as strongly urge this upon Congress in his
next report and endeavor to have the jury term
shortened. He said to STAR reporter to-day that
he thought the term should be shortened and he
still held the views expressed in his report and
that OF his predecessor.